ANTHONY EDWARD WALLACE
Anthony Edward “Tony” Wallace died peacefully at his home in Landrum, S.C., on Oct. 4. He was 88.

A native of Dublin, Ireland, Mr. Wallace moved to Landrum in 1956 with the relocation of Fairview Farms from Greenwich, Conn. He was the second of six children born to Edward and Mary Kearney Wallace and attended St. Joseph’s Christian Brothers’ School in the Fairview district of Dublin before the Wallace family emigrated to Alberta, Canada, in the summer of 1925.

During World War II he served with the 124th Cavalry, the last horse-mounted regiment in the U.S. Army, and was part of the Mars Task Force that helped open the Burma Road. He was awarded the Bronze Star in 1945.

Mr. Wallace served as vice-president and general manager of Fairview Farms, breeding and training hunters, jumpers and Thoroughbreds for more than 60 years, with a reputation among top trainers in the world for giving young horses a complete education with a patient but firm hand.

When asked about his ability with a young horse, Bert Sonnier, trainer of champion Meadowlake, said, “Tony could tell you about a horse. He could tell you whether it would be a good one or, you know, one that was just OK.”

His daughter, Megan Wallace, vividly recalled the night her champion pony Remember The Laughter was born. “He was only a couple hours old, and a pretty ugly, awkward looking thing, but I remember Dad smiling and saying to me ‘This is going to be a really good one, Meg.’ He was right,” she said.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Wallace’s talent and passionate dedication produced some of the top horses in the industry, including three-time American Horse Shows Association conformation horse of the year Golden Hill in 1947-49 and Eclipse Award champions Chris Evert and Turkoman in the 70s and 80s. “He was born and brought up to be a horseman,” said Bill Steinkraus in an interview in 1997. “He had a feeling for it. He had a calling.”

Mr. Wallace is survived by his wife, Madelon Wallace, Landrum, S.C., and daughter, Megan, of London, England.

Memorial donations may be made to the Tony Wallace Scholarship Fund at the Polk County Community Foundation, 255 South Trade Street, Tyron, NC 28782.    Staff


GREYSTONE IAN MCVAI
The popular Connemara stallion Greystone Ian McVai (Greystone McErrill–Hideaway’s Erin Mavoureen) died on Oct. 11 after suffering from lymphoma. He was 21.

During his long performance career, “Ian” competed successfully at recognized hunter shows, and, until the past few years, he and his owner Elayne Knight foxhunted three days a week, from New York to Florida.

Known for behaving beautifully in the ring, the hunt field or the breeding shed, the handsome, dark bay stallion made friends for the Connemara breed wherever he went. The impression he made on non-Connemara people, and his ability to stamp his temperament on his get, made him an especially popular sire of half-breds.

Ian produced more than 200 half-breds and a small number of purebreds, both horses and ponies, who grew up to become eventers, show and field hunters, dressage and Pony Club mounts, and pleasure horses.

He’s the only Connemara stallion with winning get in the International Hunter Futurity program, and he sired many Virginia Pony Breeders Association winners. No Secrets, an Ian McVai-Thoroughbred cross, won the CCI* Young Rider division at Morven Park (Va.) with rider Hadley Warner, just days before Ian’s death.

“The prospect of big ribbons was not the reason that most people bred to Ian. Breeders chose him because he always endowed his offspring with some of that wonderful charisma and bigheartedness so evident in his own makeup. Whatever their individual talents or flaws, Ian babies make terrific companions: fun to ride and fun to have around the farm�just like their sire,” said Marilyn Cheek, long-time Connemara breeder and owner of several of Ian McVai’s get.    Staff


VINCENT B. MURPHY JR.
Vincent Bernard Murphy Jr., who served as U.S. Equestrian Team president, died on Oct. 13 at his home in Far Hills, N.J., from com-
plications of Alzheimer’s disease. He was 78.

Mr. Murphy, an honorary life trustee, was devoted to the USET, initially as a supporting member, and then actively in the administration, first as treasurer, then as senior vice president, followed by his seven-year tenure as president from 1983-89. In 1990, Mr. Murphy was named the USET vice chairman of the Board of Directors and chairman of the Investment and Audit Committee.

In 1983, when USET President William C. Steinkraus was named USET chairman, Mr. Murphy took over the president’s role and worked with Steinkraus for several years.

“He was certainly a devoted supporter of the Team,” said Steinkraus. “He went to all the Olympic Games, both at home and abroad. He was very active in attending whenever the USET was participating. He was always at the Garden at the National Horse Show [N.Y]. He not only was involved himself, but his daughter [Michaela Murphy] was also a candidate for the Team and rode very, very well.”

Mr. Murphy and his wife of 53 years, Patricia Duffy Murphy, had six children, Vincent Murphy III, Patricia Murphy Stuebe, Kevin Murphy, Daniel Murphy, Michaela Murphy Hoag and Karen Murphy; they also had 20 grandchildren. Three of his six children shared his passion for his horses–Michaela and Karen competed in the jumper division, and Kevin rode in equitation classes.

A successful investment executive, Mr. Murphy always made time for horses. He served on the Board of Directors for the National Horse Show and the Devon Horse Show (Pa.), and was a member of the New Bolton Veterinary Center’s Board of Overseers. As a rider, Mr. Murphy hunted with the Spring Valley Hounds and Essex Foxhounds in New Jersey. He fulfilled a long-held dream when he rode his hunter, Lord Sutler, on a hunt team at the National Horse Show.

During the 1980s, Mr. Murphy owned jumpers and eventers, including Playback, the 1987 U.S. show jumper with the most earnings, and Gusty Monroe, both ridden by the legendary Rodney Jenkins.

A Yale University (Conn.), graduate who also attended Wharton Graduate School (Pa.), Mr. Murphy hailed from Rochester, N.Y. During the Korean War, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, rose to the rank of major and earned a Purple Heart. Following a stint at Johnson & Johnson, Mr. Murphy enjoyed a successful 25-year career at Salomon Brothers where he worked his way up to executive managing partner before joining Merrill Lynch in 1980 as president of Merrill Lynch Capital Resources, Inc., and ultimately became special assistant to the chairman.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Vincent B. Murphy Jr. Memorial Fund at the Alzheimer’s Association, 300 Lexington Avenue, Sixth Floor, New York, NY 10017.    Staff


DAKOTA
Dakota, the dressage horse that Tami Crawford competed in the 2000 and 2004 Olympic Selection Trials and placed fifth in the 2003 World Cup League Final, died unexpectedly on Oct. 31 in Franklin, Tenn. He was 18.

Crawford purchased the 16.2-hand, chestnut gelding (by Donnerhall) as a 3-year-old from Herbert Rehbein of Germany. She brought him through the levels with the help of trainer Robert Dover. As a 9-year-old, Dakota began competing at the Grand Prix level.

Dakota was semi-retired at 16, doing special appearances and a limited number of competitions. “He had his daily ride, his daily treat and was turned out every day in the sun,” said Crawford. “Dakota was my heart and soul. He was the horse that made my dreams come true and so much more.”

The cause of Dakota’s death is still undetermined, and Crawford is awaiting the results of a necropsy.    Staff